Microprojection device and magnetic suspension base

ABSTRACT

A microprojection device and a magnetic suspension base are provided. The microprojection device comprises a microprojector and a main suspension magnet. The microprojector is fixed to the main suspension magnet. The magnetic field direction at a magnetic field center of the main suspension magnet is in the vertical direction so the microprojector can be driven to be suspended in a magnetic field environment. The magnetic suspension base comprises: a housing and at least three base magnets disposed therein. The magnetic field direction at the center of a combined magnetic field formed by the at least three base magnets is in the vertical direction; the magnetic intensity at the center of the combined magnetic field is less than the magnetic intensity near the base magnets; and the microprojector can be driven to be suspended under the magnetic field environment by being fixed on the magnet.

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.201410438074.3, filed on Aug. 29, 2014. The present application claimspriority to and the benefit of the above-identified application and isincorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a microprojection deviceand a magnetic suspension base.

BACKGROUND

With the development of the wearable technologies and microprojectortechnologies, it has been proposed to provide a microprojector on afinger ring, namely a ring projector (hereinafter referred to as“projection ring”) has been proposed. Moreover, in order to achievebetter user experience, it has been proposed to arrange a magneticsuspension base for the projection ring, but nobody has provided aspecific implementation proposal.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the disclosure provides a microprojection device,comprising a microprojector and a main suspension magnet; themicroprojector is fixed to the main suspension magnet; and a magneticfield direction at a magnetic field center of the main suspension magnetis in a vertical direction, so that the microprojector can be driven tobe suspended in a magnetic field environment.

For example, in an embodiment, the main suspension magnet is providedwith a counterweight.

For example, in an embodiment, the microprojection device furthercomprises at least one auxiliary magnet disposed on the microprojectoror the counterweight; a straight line in which the magnetic fielddirection at a magnetic field center of each auxiliary magnet isdisposed is perpendicular to a straight line in which the magnetic fielddirection at the magnetic field center of the main suspension magnet isdisposed.

For example, in an embodiment, a wireless charging receiver is disposedin the microprojector.

Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a magnetic suspensionbase, comprising: a housing and at least three base magnets disposed inthe housing. A magnetic field direction of a center of a combinedmagnetic field formed by the at least three base magnets is in avertical direction; and magnetic intensity at the center of the combinedmagnetic field is less than magnetic intensity of the combined magneticfield near the base magnets.

For example, in an embodiment, all the base magnets are uniformlyarranged in the housing.

For example, in an embodiment, four base magnets are disposed in thehousing.

For example, in an embodiment, the main suspension magnet is providedwith a counterweight; at least one auxiliary magnet is disposed on themicroprojector or the counterweight; and a straight line in which themagnetic field direction at a magnetic field center of each auxiliarymagnet is disposed is perpendicular to a straight line in which amagnetic field direction at the magnetic field center of the mainsuspension magnet is disposed.

For example, in an embodiment, two auxiliary strip magnets are disposedon the microprojector or the counterweight; and respective axial linesof the two auxiliary strip magnets are on the same plane.

For example, in an embodiment, a connecting line of S poles of the twoauxiliary strip magnets and a connecting line of N poles of the twoauxiliary strip magnets are combined to form a first “cross” pattern;the four base magnets are uniformly distributed in the housing;connecting lines of two base magnets at a diagonal line are combined toform a second “cross” pattern; and centers of projections of the first“cross” pattern and the second “cross” pattern at the bottom of themagnetic suspension base are overlapped, and branches of the two “cross”patterns point at the same direction.

For example, in an embodiment, the number of the auxiliary magnetsdisposed on the microprojector or the counterweight is equal to thenumber of the base magnets.

For example, in an embodiment, all the base magnets are electromagnets.

For example, in an embodiment, the magnetic suspension base furthercomprises an electromagnet control unit. The electromagnet control unitcomprises a power module and a control module; the power module isrespectively connected with the electromagnets and the control moduleand configured to provide electric power, and the control module isconfigured to control the current output of the power module to theelectromagnets.

For example, in an embodiment, the electromagnet control unit furthercomprises a monitoring module, the monitoring module is connected withthe power module and the control module and configured to monitorsuspension height and azimuth signals of the microprojection device andtransmit the height and azimuth signals to the control module; and thecontrol module is configured to adjust the height and azimuth of themicroprojection device in real time according to the height and azimuthsignals.

For example, in an embodiment, a top of the housing of the magneticsuspension base is provided with a cushion or made of a soft material;or the top of the housing comprises an opening and an inner bottom ofthe housing is provided with a cushion or made of a soft material.

For example, in an embodiment, a wireless charging receiver is disposedin the microprojector; and the magnetic suspension base furthercomprises a wireless charging emitter corresponding to the wirelesscharging receiver.

For example, in an embodiment, the wireless charging receiver is aresonant wireless charging receiver or a photo-electric sensing wirelesscharging receiver; and correspondingly, the wireless charging emitter isa resonant wireless charging emitter or a photo-electric sensingwireless charging emitter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Simple description will be given below to the accompanying drawings ofthe embodiments to provide a more clear understanding of the technicalproposals of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beobvious to those skilled in the art that the drawings described belowonly involve some embodiments of the present disclosure but are notintended to limit the present disclosure.

FIG. 1a is a schematic structural view of a microprojection deviceprovided by one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1b is a schematic structural view of a modification of themicroprojection device as shown in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a magnetic suspension baseprovided by one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the shape of a magnetic fieldformed by the magnetic suspension base as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state when themicroprojection device as shown in FIG. 1 is suspended over the magneticsuspension base as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the position relation between auxiliarymagnets of the microprojection device and the base magnets of themagnetic suspension base;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of an electromagnet control unitfor controlling electromagnets in the magnetic suspension base; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state when amicroprojection device provided by another embodiment of the presentdisclosure is suspended over the magnetic suspension base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For more clear understanding of the objectives, technical proposals andadvantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure, clear andcomplete description will be given below to the technical proposals ofthe embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to theaccompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that the preferredembodiments are only partial embodiments of the present disclosure butnot all the embodiments. All the other embodiments obtained by thoseskilled in the art without creative efforts on the basis of theembodiments of the present disclosure illustrated shall fall within thescope of protection of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b are schematic structural views of a microprojectiondevice provided by one embodiment of the present disclosure. Asillustrated in FIG. 1a , the microprojection device comprises amicroprojector 4 and, in order to suspend the microprojector 4, furthercomprises a main suspension magnet 3. The microprojector 4 is fixed tothe main suspension magnet 3. The magnetic field direction at themagnetic field center of the main suspension magnet 3 is in the verticaldirection, so that the microprojector 4 can be driven to be suspendedunder the magnetic field environment. The microprojector 4 may be aprojection ring or a projector in other form.

For instance, a counterweight 11 may be further disposed under the mainsuspension magnet 3. As illustrated in FIG. 1b , the counterweight 11may be similar to a weight for a balance scale. Different counterweightsmay be disposed according to actual condition (different magneticintensities of the magnetic field environment). Of course, if themicroprojector 4 has suitable mass, the microprojector 4 may be taken asa counterweight.

The microprojector 4 not only is kept stable in the vertical directionbut also achieves stable orientation in the horizontal direction, sothat projected images can be kept stable for a viewer. For instance, atleast one auxiliary magnet 5 is also disposed on the microprojector 4 orthe counterweight 11. The straight line in which the magnetic fielddirection at a magnetic field center of each auxiliary magnet 5 isdisposed is perpendicular to the straight line in which the magneticfield direction at the magnetic field center of the main suspensionmagnet 3 is formed. Thus, under the magnetic field environment, when themain suspension magnet 3 is applied with a magnetic force in thevertical direction, so that the microprojector 4 can be kept suspended,the auxiliary magnets 5 each are applied with a magnetic force in thehorizontal direction, so that the microprojector 4 can maintain stableorientation.

For instance, the microprojector 4 may also have a built-in wireless ornon-contact type charging receiver. Thus, the microprojector 4 can bewirelessly charged even in the suspended state, so as to guarantee anenough battery life.

The microprojection device provided by at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure can also suspend the microprojector in a magneticfield environment applying a repulse force to the suspension magnet 3.The magnetic field may be a magnetic field environment of a magneticsuspension base provided by the following embodiment.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides amagnetic suspension base. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the magneticsuspension base comprises: a housing 1 and at least three base magnets 2disposed within the housing 1. The magnetic field direction at thecenter of the combined magnetic field formed by the at least three basemagnets 2 is in the vertical direction, and the magnetic intensity atthe center of the combined magnetic field is less than the magneticintensity of the combined magnetic field around the base magnets (thatis to say, in the combined magnetic field, the magnetic intensity closeto the center of the combined magnetic field is less than the magneticintensity close to any base magnet 2), so that the microprojectiondevice provided by any foregoing embodiment can be driven to besuspended. As the magnetic intensity is reduced as the magnetic field isaway from the magnet, the overlap among at least three magnetic fieldswill form the combined magnetic field in which the center is weak and aposition above each magnet is strong. That is to say, the combinedmagnetic field will provide a repulsive force that is upwards in thevertical direction to the main suspension magnet 3 of themicroprojection device to overcome the gravity of the entiremicroprojection device, and then the microprojection device can bedriven to be suspended. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 1 is inthe shape of a round platform. But the embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto.

For instance, all the base magnets 2 may be uniformly disposed in thehousing 1 so as to provide a uniform combined magnetic field. That is tosay, a composite force of the main suspension magnet 3 applied by thecombined magnetic field is about 0 in the horizontal direction, so thatthe microprojection device cannot be inclined.

FIG. 2 only illustrates the example in which four base magnets 2 aredisposed within the housing 1. The four base magnets 2 may be uniformlydistributed at the bottom of the housing 1, and of course, may also befixed on the side wall of the housing 1. The disclosure of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, all the base magnets 2 are in the shape ofstrips. Poles of each strip base magnet 2 point at the same direction.In FIG. 2, north (N) poles are all pointed upwards. Alternatively, south(S) poles may also be all pointed upwards. FIG. 3 illustrates theconfiguration of a magnetic field formed by the four strip base magnets2. The overlap of respective magnetic fields of the four strip basemagnets 2 will form a combined magnetic field in which the intensity ofthe center of a circular ring is weak but the intensity of positionsabove the four magnets is strong.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the state when the microprojection device issuspended over the magnetic suspension base. The S-N pole orientation ofthe main suspension magnet 3 is opposite to the S-N pole orientation ofthe base magnets 2 in the base. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the N poles ofthe main suspension magnet 3 are pointed downwards and the S poles ofthe main suspension magnet 3 are pointed upwards; the N poles of thebase magnets 2 are pointed upwards and the S poles of the base magnets 2are pointed downwards; and hence the main suspension magnet 3 can besuspended in the air.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, two auxiliary strip magnets 5 aredisposed on the microprojector 4, and axial lines of the two auxiliarystrip magnets 5 are on the same plane. In order to keep themicroprojector 4 stable in the horizontal direction, the connecting lineof the S poles of the two auxiliary strip magnets and the connectingline of the N poles of the two auxiliary strip magnets are combined toform a first “cross” (+) pattern; the four base magnets are uniformlydistributed in the housing; the connecting lines of two base magnets ata diagonal line are combined to form a second “cross” pattern; thecenters of projections of the first “cross” pattern and the second“cross” pattern on the bottom of the magnetic suspension base aremutually overlapped; and branches of the two “cross” patterns point tosame direction.

For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the magnetic intensity N1 of thebase magnets 2 disposed at both ends of a vertical y direction of thecrossed pattern is less than the magnetic intensity N2 of the basemagnets 2 disposed at both ends of a horizontal x direction of thecrossed pattern, so that both ends in the vertical direction have smallrepulse force to the N poles of the auxiliary magnets 5 and both ends inthe horizontal direction have large repulse force to the N poles of theauxiliary magnets 5 and have a large attractive force to the S poles ofthe auxiliary magnets 5, and hence the auxiliary magnets 5 can maintainstable orientation. Because the auxiliary magnets 5 are stable, themicroprojector 4 can maintain good horizontal orientation and thusprojected images can be kept stable. Compared with the example in whichonly one auxiliary magnet 5 is applied, the magnetic field in theexample of two auxiliary magnets 5 can become more easily stabilized. Aplurality of auxiliary magnets 5 may also be disposed. For instance, thenumber of the auxiliary magnets 5 is equal to the number of the basemagnets in the base. Thus, each base magnet 2 is matched with oneauxiliary magnet 5, so as to maintain good horizontal orientation.

The base magnets 2 may be all common permanent magnets (the suspensionheight may be adjusted by the counterweight on the microprojectiondevice). In another example, the base magnets 2 may be allelectromagnets. In this case, the magnetic force of the electromagnetscan be respectively adjusted, so that the suspension height of themicroprojection device can be more flexibly adjusted.

For instance, the magnetic suspension base may further comprise anelectromagnet control unit. As illustrated in FIG. 6 (for examplespecifically shown by a portion represented by dotted lines), theelectromagnet control unit comprises: a power module and a controlmodule. The power module is respectively connected with theelectromagnets and the control module. The control module is configuredto control the current output of the power module to the electromagnets.Adjusting parameters, e.g., the current of the electromagnetscorresponding to the suspension height and azimuth of themicroprojector, may be preset in the control module.

For instance, the electromagnet control unit may further comprise amonitoring module, and this monitoring module is connected with thepower module and the control module and configured to monitor thesuspension height and azimuth signals of the microprojector and transmitthe height and azimuth signals to the control module, and hence thecontrol module adjusts the height and azimuth of the microprojectiondevice in real time according to the height and azimuth signals. Forinstance, the control module may employ various control algorithms suchas proportional-integral-derivative (PID) algorithm and fuzzy controlalgorithm to achieve the rapid stabilization of the microprojector. Themonitoring module, for instance, may be a magnetic field distributionsensor configured to monitor the magnetic field distribution of theauxiliary magnets 5. The monitoring module may also be a cameraconfigured to capture a distinct mark on a suspended object (aprojection ring), and hence the control module determines theorientation of the suspended object through image algorithm orrecognition. When the microprojection device is used, a user only needsto place the microprojection device at a substantially central positionover the base, and hence the microprojection device can rapidly achievethe stabilization of height and orientation. For instance, theelectromagnet control unit may be integrated into the base so as toobtain a compact structure and achieve a stable effect.

The power module is configured to provide electric power to theelectromagnets, the monitoring module and the control module. The powermodule may be externally connected with other power source, built-inbatteries or the like.

For instance, the top of the housing 1 of the magnetic suspension baseis provided with a cushion or made of a soft material, so as to preventthe microprojection device from falling down and being damaged when themagnetic field is eliminated in the case of sudden power failure. Thetop of the housing 1 may also be an opening, namely there is no top. Inthis case, the inner bottom of the housing is provided with a cushion ormade of a soft material.

For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the microprojector may beprovided with a wireless charging receiver 21, and the magneticsuspension base may further comprise a wireless charging emitter 22corresponding to the receiver. Thus, the microprojector 4 can also bewirelessly charged in the case of suspension, so as to guarantee enoughbattery life. For instance, the wireless charging receiver is a resonantwireless charging receiver or a photo-electric sensing wireless chargingreceiver, and correspondingly, the wireless charging emitter may be aresonant wireless charging emitter or a photo-electric sensing wirelesscharging emitter. As the working frequency of resonant andphoto-electric sensing wireless charging is larger than the mechanicalresonance frequency of the microprojector, the influence of the magneticfield fluctuation on the projection display effect can be avoided.

It should be noted that all the magnets in the embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be strip magnets or may be circular (or loop) magnets.For instance, the main suspension magnet 3 may be made to be in a loopshape as long as the orientation of the magnetic field thereof is alongthe axial line of the loop. The overall shape of the housing of themagnetic suspension base may be of various shape to achieve a stableeffect, for instance, may be the shape of a volcano, an ashtray, aflying saucer or the like. The suspension means of the microprojectiondevice is also not limited to the suspension mode in the embodiment, inwhich the magnetic suspension base is disposed below and themicroprojection device is disposed above, and may also be in thesuspension mode in which the magnetic suspension base is fixed above,e.g., on the ceiling and the microprojection device is disposed belowthe base, as long as the base magnets of the magnetic suspension baseand the main suspension magnet of the microprojection device attracteach other. The principle thereof is similar to that of the aboveembodiments. No further description will be given here.

The foregoing is only the preferred embodiments of the presentdisclosure and not intended to limit the scope of protection of thepresent disclosure. The scope of protection of the present disclosureshould be defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic suspension base, comprising: a housingand only four base magnets disposed in the housing, wherein the housingis in a shape of hollow circular truncated cone, and comprises an uppersurface, a lower surface, an inner surface and an outer surface, theinner surface is an cylindrical surface perpendicular to the uppersurface and the lower surface, the upper surface is in a shape ofcircular ring; the only four base magnets are spaced apart from eachother, north poles of the only four base magnets point at a samedirection, and distances between centers of orthographic projections ofthe only four base magnets on the lower surface and a center of thelower surface are same; a magnetic field direction of a center of acombined magnetic field formed by the only four base magnets is in avertical direction; and magnetic intensity at the center of the combinedmagnetic field is less than magnetic intensity of the combined magneticfield near the base magnets.
 2. The magnetic suspension base accordingto claim 1, wherein all the base magnets are uniformly arranged in thehousing.
 3. The magnetic suspension base according to claim 1, whereinall the base magnets are electromagnets.
 4. The magnetic suspension baseaccording to claim 3, further comprising an electromagnet control unit,wherein the electromagnet control unit comprises a power module and acontrol module; the power module is respectively connected with theelectromagnets and the control module and configured to provide electricpower, and the control module is configured to control a current outputof the power module to the electromagnets.
 5. The magnetic suspensionbase according to claim 3, wherein an inner bottom of the housing isprovided with a cushion or made of a soft material.
 6. The magneticsuspension base according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic suspensionbase further comprises a wireless charging emitter.
 7. The magneticsuspension base according to claim 6, wherein the wireless chargingemitter is a resonant wireless charging emitter or a photo-electricsensing wireless charging emitter.
 8. The magnetic suspension baseaccording to claim 1, wherein each base magnet is in a shape of cuboid;and a length of a side, which is perpendicular to the lower surface, ofthe cuboid is longer than a length of a side, which is parallel to thelower surface, of the cuboid.